77th Emmy Awards

[dougo]

Just like last year, I've managed to watch at least one episode of every show nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, including the specific episodes nominated in the writing and directing categories (but not counting the reality/variety categories). Once again I don't have enough time left before the ceremony tonight to write up my opinions of each show, but here are my rankings in each category from most to least favorite. (These are not predictions, just how I would fill out my ballot if I were in the Television Academy.) I've indicated how many episodes I've watched of each show; for the ones with no indication, I watched the full season. (For multiple-season shows that were new to me, I watched the pilot episode first. In the case of Somebody Somewhere, I watched the first and last episodes of the series, since the finale was nominated for Outstanding Writing, so it felt like I was on Alan Sepinwall's Too Long; Didn't Watch podcast!)

Outstanding Comedy Series

1. The Bear (FX)
2. The Studio (Apple TV+) - 5 episodes
3. Hacks (HBO Max) - 4 episodes
4. Abbott Elementary (ABC) - 8 episodes
5. Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
6. Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
7. Shrinking (Apple TV+)
8. What We Do in the Shadows (FX) - 2 episodes

While none of these shows were home runs (and not the best season for any of the returning shows), they were all worth watching, and it's honestly hard to rank them.

Outstanding Drama Series

1. Andor (Disney+)
2. Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
3. Severance (Apple TV+)
4. The Pitt (HBO Max) - 4 episodes
5. The White Lotus (HBO)
6. The Diplomat (Netflix) - 1 episode
7. Paradise (Hulu) - 2 episodes
8. The Last of Us (HBO) - 1 episode

While I ranked Severance over Andor in my best TV of 2022 list, it was a very close call. After their second seasons, though, I'm ready to call Andor the clear winner, and the clear leader for best show of the decade. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like it's going to win, but you should all watch it! Even if you hate Star Wars!

Everyone says episode 7 of Paradise is the one to watch, but I haven't gotten there yet. Looking forward to it, but from what I hear, the rest of the season is unlikely to change my rating. And I think the same goes for episode 2 of The Last of Us, but I already was lukewarm on season 1 (ranking 49th in my best TV of 2023 list), so you shouldn't be too surprised to see it ranked last here.

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

1. The Penguin (HBO)
2. Adolescence (Netflix)
3. Black Mirror (Netflix) - 2 episodes
4. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)
5. Dying for Sex (FX) - 6 episodes

All worthy shows, and while Dying for Sex didn't totally land for me, I can see its appeal for many others. I was skeptical about Monsters but after episode 5 I understood why it was nominated, and it's worth watching the show just to see how it gets to that. I regret not getting around to the other Black Mirror episodes, but the first two felt a little lower than average compared to past seasons.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

1. Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building as Oliver Putnam (Hulu)
2. Jeremy Allen White – The Bear as Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto (FX)
3. Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This as Noah Roklov (Netflix)
4. Jason Segel – Shrinking as Jimmy Laird (Apple TV+)
5. Seth Rogen – The Studio as Matt Remick (Apple TV+) - 5 episodes

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

1. Ayo Edebiri – The Bear as Sydney "Syd" Adamu (FX)
2. Jean Smart – Hacks as Deborah Vance (HBO Max) - 4 episodes
3. Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary as Janine Teagues (ABC) - 8 episodes
4. Uzo Aduba – The Residence as Cordelia Cupp (Netflix) - 1 episode
5. Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This as Joanne (Netflix)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

1. Gary Oldman – Slow Horses as Jackson Lamb (Apple TV+)
2. Noah Wyle – The Pitt as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (HBO Max) - 4 episodes
3. Adam Scott – Severance as Mark Scout (Apple TV+)
4. Sterling K. Brown – Paradise as Xavier Collins (Hulu)
5. Pedro Pascal – The Last of Us as Joel Miller (HBO) - 1 episode

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

1. Britt Lower – Severance as Helly R. (Apple TV+)
2. Kathy Bates – Matlock as Madeline "Matty" Matlock / Madeline Kingston (CBS) - 1 episode
3. Keri Russell – The Diplomat as Katherine "Kate" Wyler (Netflix) - 1 episode
4. Sharon Horgan – Bad Sisters as Eva Garvey (Apple TV+) - 1 episode
5. Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us as Ellie (HBO) - 1 episode

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

1. Colin Farrell – The Penguin as Oswald "Oz" Cobb / The Penguin (HBO)
2. Cooper Koch – Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story as Erik Menendez (Netflix)
3. Stephen Graham – Adolescence as Eddie Miller (Netflix)
4. Jake Gyllenhaal – Presumed Innocent as Rozat "Rusty" Sabich (Apple TV+)
5. Brian Tyree Henry – Dope Thief as Ray Driscoll (Apple TV+) - 1 episode

This is the toughest category! All are excellent.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

1. Cristin Milioti – The Penguin as Sofia Falcone / Sofia Gigante / The Hangman (HBO)
2. Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex as Molly Kochan (FX) - 6 episodes
3. Rashida Jones – Black Mirror: "Common People" as Amanda Waters (Netflix)
4. Meghann Fahy – Sirens as Devon DeWitt (Netflix) - 1 episode
5. Cate Blanchett – Disclaimer as Catherine Ravenscroft (Apple TV+) - 1 episode

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

1. Ike Barinholtz – The Studio as Sal Saperstein (Apple TV+) - 5 episodes
2. Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Bear as Richard "Richie" Jerimovich (FX)
3. Colman Domingo – The Four Seasons as Danny (Netflix) - 1 episode
4. Harrison Ford – Shrinking as Dr. Paul Rhoades (Apple TV+)
5. Michael Urie – Shrinking as Brian (Apple TV+)
6. Jeff Hiller – Somebody Somewhere as Joel (HBO)
7. Bowen Yang – Saturday Night Live as various characters (NBC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

1. Hannah Einbinder – Hacks as Ava Daniels (HBO Max) - 4 episodes
2. Liza Colón-Zayas – The Bear as Tina Marrero (FX)
3. Jessica Williams – Shrinking as Gaby Evans (Apple TV+)
4. Catherine O'Hara – The Studio as Patty Leigh (Apple TV+) - 5 episodes
5. Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary as Barbara Howard (ABC) - 8 episodes
6. Kathryn Hahn – The Studio as Maya Mason (Apple TV+) - 5 episodes
7. Janelle James – Abbott Elementary as Ava Coleman (ABC) - 8 episodes

Category fraud for Hannah Einbinder...

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

1. Tramell Tillman – Severance as Seth Milchick (Apple TV+)
2. John Turturro – Severance as Irving Bailiff (Apple TV+)
3. Walton Goggins – The White Lotus as Rick Hatchett (HBO)
4. Zach Cherry – Severance as Dylan George (Apple TV+)
5. Sam Rockwell – The White Lotus as Frank (HBO)
6. Jason Isaacs – The White Lotus as Timothy Ratliff (HBO)
7. James Marsden – Paradise as President Cal Bradford (Hulu) - 2 episodes

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

1. Aimee Lou Wood – The White Lotus as Chelsea (HBO)
2. Carrie Coon – The White Lotus as Laurie Duffy (HBO)
3. Patricia Arquette – Severance as Harmony Cobel (Apple TV+)
4. Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt as Charge Nurse Dana Evans (HBO Max) - 4 episodes
5. Parker Posey – The White Lotus as Victoria Ratliff (HBO)
6. Natasha Rothwell – The White Lotus as Belinda Lindsey (HBO)
7. Julianne Nicholson – Paradise as Samantha "Sinatra" Redmond (Hulu) - 2 episodes

Another very tough category.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

1. Peter Sarsgaard – Presumed Innocent as Tommy Motto (Apple TV+)
2. Bill Camp – Presumed Innocent as Raymond Horgan (Apple TV+)
3. Ashley Walters – Adolescence as DI Luke Bascombe (Netflix)
4. Owen Cooper – Adolescence as Jamie Miller (Netflix)
5. Rob Delaney – Dying for Sex as Neighbor Guy (FX) - 6 episodes
6. Javier Bardem – Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story as José Menendez (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

1. Deirdre O'Connell – The Penguin as Francis Cobb (HBO)
2. Ruth Negga – Presumed Innocent as Barbara Sabich (Apple TV+)
3. Erin Doherty – Adolescence as Briony Ariston (Netflix)
4. Chloë Sevigny – Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story as Kitty Menendez (Netflix)
5. Jenny Slate – Dying for Sex as Nikki Boyer (FX) - 6 episodes
6. Christine Tremarco – Adolescence as Manda Miller (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

1. The Studio: "The Oner" – Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Apple TV+)
2. The Bear: "Napkins" – Ayo Edebiri (FX)
3. Mid-Century Modern: "Here's to You, Mrs. Schneiderman" – James Burrows (Hulu)
4. Hacks: "A Slippery Slope" – Lucia Aniello (HBO Max)
5. The Rehearsal: "Pilot's Code" – Nathan Fielder (HBO)

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

1. Andor: "Who Are You?" – Janus Metz (Disney+)
2. Severance: "Chikhai Bardo" – Jessica Lee Gagné (Apple TV+)
3. Severance: "Cold Harbor" – Ben Stiller (Apple TV+)
4. The Pitt: "6:00 P.M." – Amanda Marsalis (HBO Max)
5. The Pitt: "7:00 A.M." – John Wells (HBO Max)
6. The White Lotus: "Amor Fati" – Mike White (HBO)
7. Slow Horses: "Hello Goodbye" – Adam Randall (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

1. Adolescence – Philip Barantini (Netflix)
2. The Penguin: "Cent'Anni" – Helen Shaver (HBO)
3. Dying for Sex: "It's Not That Serious" – Shannon Murphy (FX)
4. The Penguin: "A Great or Little Thing" – Jennifer Getzinger (HBO)
5. Sirens: "Exile" – Nicole Kassell (Netflix)
6. Zero Day – Lesli Linka Glatter (Netflix) - 1 episode

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

1. Hacks: "A Slippery Slope" – Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (HBO Max)
2. The Rehearsal: "Pilot's Code" – Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Adam Locke-Norton, and Eric Notarnicola (HBO)
3. What We Do in the Shadows: "The Finale" – Sam Johnson, Sarah Naftalis, and Paul Simms (FX)
4. Abbott Elementary: "Back to School" – Quinta Brunson (ABC)
5. The Studio: "The Promotion" – Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez (Apple TV+)
6. Somebody Somewhere: "AGG" – Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen, and Bridget Everett (HBO)

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

1. Andor: "Welcome to the Rebellion" – Dan Gilroy (Disney+)
2. Severance: "Cold Harbor" – Dan Erickson (Apple TV+)
3. Slow Horses: "Hello Goodbye" – Will Smith (Apple TV+)
4. The White Lotus: "Full-Moon Party" – Mike White (HBO)
5. The Pitt: "2:00 P.M." – Joe Sachs (HBO Max)
6. The Pitt: "7:00 A.M." – R. Scott Gemmill (HBO Max)

Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

1. The Penguin: "A Great or Little Thing" – Lauren LeFranc (HBO)
2. Adolescence – Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham (Netflix)
3. Say Nothing: "The People In The Dirt" – Joshua Zetumer (FX)
4. Black Mirror: "Common People" – Story by : Charlie Brooker and Bisha K. Ali, Teleplay by : Charlie Brooker (Netflix)
5. Dying for Sex: "Good Value Diet Soda" – Story by : Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether, Teleplay by : Kim Rosenstock (FX)